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Chronicle: A Point of Pride (Part 6)

We got a chance to explore what is new about the Point and why it works so well and what is very, very old. water, simple, yet powerful. Soaring sky-ward from an ancient source, that fascinating even river rescue teams that go over it.

Updated: 11:53 AM EDT Sep 13, 2013

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Chronicle: A Point of Pride (Part 6)

We got a chance to explore what is new about the Point and why it works so well and what is very, very old. water, simple, yet powerful. Soaring sky-ward from an ancient source, that fascinating even river rescue teams that go over it.

Updated: 11:53 AM EDT Sep 13, 2013

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Chronicle: A Point of Pride (Part 6)

We got a chance to explore what is new about the Point and why it works so well and what is very, very old. water, simple, yet powerful. Soaring sky-ward from an ancient source, that fascinating even river rescue teams that go over it.

Updated: 11:53 AM EDT Sep 13, 2013

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WEBVTT IT'S GREAT TO SEE PEOPLE BACK ENCHANTING DISPLAYS OF L.E.D. LIGHTING, A SOOTHING INFINITY POOL, COMPLETE WITH A WATERFALL, MANY OF THE NEW BELLS AND WHISTLES OF THE FOUNTAIN ARE ON DISPLAY FOR ALL TO SEE. BUT WE GOT A CHANCE TO EXPLORE WHAT IS NEW ABOUT WHY IT WORKS SO WELL AND WHAT IS VERY, VERY OLD. WATER, SIMPLE, YET POWERFUL. SOARING SKY-WARD FROM AN ANCIENT SOURCE, THAT FASCINATING EVEN RIVER RESCUE TEAMS THAT GO OVER IT. THE FASCINATING PART IS THAT THE WATER FROM THE FOUNTAIN COMES FROM THE FOURTH RIVER THAT RUNS UNDERNEATH. AND HIDDEN UNDERNEATH THE GROUND IS THE SOURCE OF THE WATER. HIS PRIDE IN THE PITTSBURGH FOUNTAIN GOES BACK TO 1989 WHEN HE ARRIVED HERE. HE KNOWS THE GUTS OF ALL OF THIS. THE PIPES, THE PUMPS, THE SWITCHES AND THE RESERVOIR THAT FEEDS THE FOUNTAIN. THIS IS A CONTROLLER FOR THE WELL PUMP THAT I SHOWED YOU OUTSIDE. YOU TURN THIS PUMP ON, AND IT PUMPS WATER TO THIS RESERVOIR, THAT IS UNDERNEATH THE WHOLE BUILDING. 20 FEET DEEP AND NOW, AFTER FOUR YEARS OF DRY SILENCE. THE RESERVOIR AND ITS FOUNTAIN ARE REBORN, WITH NEW PIPES AND NEW PUMPS AND A NEW MANAGEMENT CONFIGURE RAGZ. THE CITY ONCE RAN THE FOUNTAIN AND PARK FOR THE STATE. NOW THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES IS FRONT AND CENTER. WITH THE RENOVATIONS OF THE PARK, WE DECIDED TO PUT A FULL TIME STATE PARK STAFF AND OPERATION DOWN HERE, WORKING WITH THE CITY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORK FOLKS. A MIX AND ARRAY OF SHINY NEW PUMPS. THESE PUMPS WERE ADDED WHEN THEY ADDED THE WATER FALL PIECES. THEY ADDED AN INNER RING TO THE FOUNTAIN, THAT WAS HIGHER THAN THE OUTER RING AND THESE PUMPS DRIVE THE WATER TO THE INNER RING THAT CREATES THE WATERFALL. AND THESE PUMPS 8,000 GALLONS A MINUTE, AND THAT ONE PUMPS 8,000 GALLONS A MINUTE. THREE OTHER PUMPS DRIVE THE MAIN COLUMN FOR ANOTHER 4,000 GALLONS A MINUTE. SO THAT MAKES 20,000 GALLONS A MINUTE. WHICH IS OVER A MILLION GALLONS AN HOUR AND CONTROLLING THIS ALL? A TINY TOUCH SCREEN. USED TO BE A PANEL OF BUTTONS AND KNOBS AND LIGHTS AND NOW IT'S AN iPHONE SCREEN. IT RAISES UP THE INNER POOL UP AN EXTRA 18 INCHES THAT TAKES 30% OF THE HISTORIC FLOOD WATERS OUT OF THE PICTURE. ALWAYS A GOOD TIME. STILL TO COME ON "CHRONICLE," I ADORE THE ALLEGHENY RIVER. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVORITE RIVER.